65 396

I'm looking at buying a 396 block 3855962. The stamp on the pad reads:

T1IIOEF F106431

Can anyone here tell me what this came out of?

Nowhere Man

1966 Chevelle SS396/360 4 speed built in Fremont Ca

gbvette62

I agree that it's a 396 from a Chevelle, but I think it was built at Flint MI, and could be a 66, 67 or 68. "F" was the assembly plant code for Flint, the VIN letter code for Fremont was "Z".

"T" is the Tonawanda engine plant, 1II0 is Novemebr 11th, and "EF" is the suffix code for either a 396/360 manual trans in a 66 Chevelle, or 396/350 with manual trans in 67-68 Chevelle.

F106431 is the VIN derivative for the car the engine came out of. "F" is the Flint MI assembly plant, and they did build Chevelles there. Normally there would be a number in front of the F, to indicate the model year of the car the VIN was assigned to. On GM cars other than Corvettes, a VIN derivative was only stamped on high horse engines. Since it was only done occasionally, the stampings varied somewhat from plant to plant, and even from day to day.

If you can find the casting date and casting number, that should determine exactly which year Chevelle engine it is. The casting date is found on the flange at the rear of the block, that the bellhousing bolts too. The casting date is usually found either on the rear flange, or on the side of the block, above one of the freeze plugs.

Pboyd

dear 65 396 ---- The commenters are correct that this is a 66 Chevelle block. Even though it has the same casting number, it is significantly different from the 962 block used in the 65 model year. To begin with, the first production 962 blocks were cast either late January or early February 1965 and assembled in early March of 65. None existed early enough to have a Tonawanda assembly date in November 64. The 1965 blocks had several reinforcing ribs that the 66 blocks lack, and the wall thickness of the 65 block bores is much greater (with the same water jacket diameter as a 427). The most visible and obvious difference is that 65 396's have reinforcing ribs between the timing chain cover and the intake manifold. I don't think any 66 model year or later blocks (except the ZL-1) had these obvious casting features. If the block you are looking at lacks these ribs, it will not be right for a 65 Corvette. I have several early 65 396 blocks you can look at, and I am in the DC area if you would like to PM me.

midstyle

Here are the 2 ribs above the timing chain cover. Also, there are 2 ribs on back of block.

ndabunka

Thanks guys for a VERY helpful thread!